Past Ramblings

Off late I have been getting too many requests from people who want to work with me. I want to tell them and the others the hard truth. No one will ever tell you this, and that’s the reason why things around us are the way they are.

Stop fantasizing about feature films. Stop glorifying the idea of getting to make a film and releasing it in a movie theatre. The game out here is not what it appears to be from the other side. As dreamers, we dream of making feature films and releasing them in the theatres. We think, that’s what is called as success. I have written for three feature films, acted in six and directed one, and when I talk about realities, you must take it seriously for your own good.

Please understand that film making in India is less of art and more of business. The sooner you get that, the happier you are. So you must decide whether you want to do business or films. This decision will take you in two different directions. So please do decide what you want to do.

Feature films that release in theatres is all about branding and business. Its the new circus. Don’t get here with dreams to tell a novel story. Your job would be to provide entertainment, entertainment that a 6 year old can understand. To excel in this area, you need skills in marketing and PR, more than the skill of film making. The majority of the audience don’t care whether you have anything new to tell, they want to be fooled into thinking that you are saying something new. Its a circus, you must know how to get the most popular clown and then spice it up with some hot chics and then add little action here and there. Ask yourself if you know how to do all this? The sad part is that no one teaches you these things, nobody can. The skills required to do all of these things is inborn and those talented people eventually make it big and are known as successful filmmakers. And there is nothing wrong in being able to do that. In fact it is very difficult, more difficult than making something from the heart. I am one of the less talented guys in this area of film making and I am wondering how to get better at this. So if you are someone who is dreaming to do all of that, then stop watching foreign films, stop being smart and intelligent, instead try being innocent. Start brushing up skills on marketing and building contacts. Most of the producers and studio all over the country will not look what script you are carrying, they will see which star has given you the dates. It might sound bad, but that’s the truth, get in terms with that. A major production house told me that I must write scripts which a 6 year old should be able to understand and that’s when they will produce it, they said this after watching lifeu Ishtene and knowing how successful it was commercially.

Am I against commercial films? Am I complaining? Nope, not a bit. When there is a demand, there is a supply, there is nothing wrong in that. I am just asking the new breed to know what they want to get into. Some of you may want to come and change things, that could be your plan. Its a plan everyone comes with, including me. Some of the film makers you hate now also started with the same intention. Recently a senior producer whom I met said – ‘Its easy to wake up someone who is sleeping, but impossible to wake up someone who is pretending to sleep’. This was his way of advising me not to be too creative with what I write for commercial cinema. I believe that the majority of the theatre going audience don’t want to wake up. Time and again the statistics has proved that right. They want the circus. At this point some of you will list out a handful of films which were out of the box and still were successful commercially. But you don’t know what the film maker goes through after such films. We appreciate Anurag Kashyup, we are in awe of the films he makes but his every new film is a struggle for him. Its like starting all over again. But he enjoys this process, so he keeps going through that. But are all dreamers cut out for such hardships? Only they can tell. Getting my first film was a lot easier than getting the second one. No one knew what I could do last year. Now they know how Lifeu Ishtene was and it scares them that I might end up doing something like that again, I am constantly advised to make something commercial. For a commercial producer, Lifeu Ishtene is not a film they would want to make, though it made profits, they always want to play safe. So all those of you out there inspired by my story of making lifeu ishtene, please know these facts and then contact me. Paper article tend to glorify our careers, don’t fall for it.

You all know that one in a million eventually gets to run the circus. What about the rest? Honestly, I feel the rest are in a better place. If you are someone who is new with all the zeal, by trying to be my assistant or anybody’s assistant, you are wasting your time. The world is changing really fast. And everyone is changing differently within their own geographical regions. The theatre going audience in India is way different from the ones outside India. It is very natural for a young dreamer to be inspired by foreign films, most of the times that is your seed to become a film maker. But 10 years from the day the seed was sown, you will be a very frustrated person, if you try to follow the old methods.

I want you all to be part of the new wave. Stop thinking about being on Filmy Funda or Zoom TV. Start thinking about being on millions of laptops and Ipads. Start making the films you want to make. Don’t fall into the commercial cinema crap trap. The technology today is filmmaker friendly. Think new. commercial cinema will give you budgets, but it will tweak your dream into a product that the market is demanding. Trust me, this process is not fun at all.

So my advice to all the new dreamers is that, be a story teller. Use the technology and tell a story, there are audience all over the world who want to watch good stories, it is the same audience who don’t go to the cinema halls anymore, and they are in majority. Why make commercial feature films by selling your soul when only a small percentage of audience will watch it, instead make what you want and release it worldwide online, you might not make as much money as you make in commercial cinema but you will be able to sleep better. My new initiative Home Talkies is to support this idea and trust me that’s the future. Watch Iranian cinema. See what they did in pressure and constraints. Develop your own style of telling a story, it will make you unique. That’s what the whole world will appreciate. Don’t dream of 3 weeks of theatrical fame and lose your soul, its not worth at all. I am not just advising this to the young, I am going to start doing the same very soon. I was never cut out to run a circus anyway, I wish I was because I could have made loads of money

Please see Christopher Nolan’s First feature film – Following. A film that made me a filmmaker. You must see the film and then watch it again with nolan’s commentary. He made this film with no producer, shot only on weekends and worked jobs on weekdays. All the actors are his friends and family members. He showcased this film at film festivals, and asked people to donate money to make memento. Today he is the man who can make Inception!

Whenever I am a little low, I watch Following, it reminds me that – I am my own limitation!

21 thoughts on “The Hard Truth”

A blanket which gives warmth.. can also be used to decorate a window.
some, enjoy the decoration..some, check for multi utility. some are contented just with the warmth it gives.
some day you buy it for warmth.. the next day it might get promoted to do a decoration job.. or even vice-versa.
Adapt to the times. kaala bandaaga nusuLiko.. nusiLida mele, mundenu maaDodu noDko!
I might sound disconnected to most of the “comment readers”! but I hope, at least the writer of the blog can appreciate my point.

First thing, I loved lifu ishtene. And I wait for such a movies to come. If you also want to be like other directors, then why did you dream. If I would like to do something in life, I wish to do it for myself. Of course I don’t have any plans for movies or something. But after watching that movie, I searched about you and started following your updates.

I don’t understand why you have written like this. If one has to be just another in the crowd why should one be. Even in my profession, I struggle to be myself. Yes it is not free but at the cost of struggle. But what else can be so precious than being oneself. Yes I am speaking practically.

Pawan, this artcile is hearfelt and true, i can see that. I am sure you must be the one being worried about by pimply youngsters wanting to make it big in the industry too, but I do think that people must still want to make cinema that is touching(or otherwise) and also made for the massess. Otherwise where would we be without, Subramaniapuram, kaloori, or Pasanga? Where would people turn for that extra zing of watching something truly different on screen? i watched Siddalingu yesterday and felt so pleasured and so were thousands if i am not wrong…We need crusaders to fight this war…People who really are passionate will make it big…no one gets it easy…i think thats the slogan when it comes to filmdom. And to end this, thankgod for film makers like you, who fight despite everything and stay afloat, writing cathartic articles to vent their frustrated soul…Pawan there is large mass out there that wants good cinema…Stay put and do kick the young boys who come with a smile…but do let them hang around the sets…human beings get used to any sort of treatment and evolve…so is a film maker born…

There may be a lot of Dreamers arround. but all dreams will not be executed in screen. because apart from dream there is many more things are there to do movies. all dreamers wont be getting chances. but who has a chance they should dream diffrently not always commercially.they should make a movies like that should inspire dream ever to who never get a chance….!!!:P

Completely agree with the fact that glamour and fame is seductive. I can very much relate to what you are saying.

I my two plus years of experience of volunteering as On-air talent with Radio-Girmit (online radio station), I have come across many people who are fantasized with the glamour and fame that an online Radio show brings with it and think that they could make it big too. They write in saying they aspire to be on air, but when we tell them it is totally of a volunteering nature and they would not be making any money out of it, they give lame excuses which is kind of funny. So where did all the passion with which they wrote to us vanish ?

Just having passion does not make one successful. It takes a lot of dedication, commitment and submission to the process behind the success. End of the day its a battle between the “soul breaking free” passion and the helplessness that the lack of vitamin M brings with it. So my advice to all people who want to make it big in the field of cinema or any creative field for that matter is “weigh your passion against the practical aspects of life before you actually take the holy pledge to do all it takes”.

Regd Fallowing, One mani reason why i liked the film is it gives some work to audience who are watching it, a work to think whats happening in the story, they try to reframe the story as per their IQ & understand the film. Thats the power of his narration, i also like this kind of cinema which gives his audience some work(Also like other kind of entertaining cinmea but this narration is my fav). Also fallowing is the best considering the way he shot it, constraints evrything. But after all these he has narrated a story which was very interesting, engaging & makes people to think whats happening.

I would be disappointed if you were to get frustrated and start making commercial love stories. The reason i have high hopes on you is because i believe you will give us a movie which would not insult our thinking capabilities. That’s what has been happening in the kannada movies off late and it is something that new comers like you can bring a change in. Kannada cinema has neglected the intellectual audience for too long. Go ahead and change it buddy, we are with you

I partially agree with you that the industry is more about business and less about art. But the way you have put it out, you are dissuading many aspiring (some of whom could be really talented)people who think twice about venturing in the first place.

Anybody who has got in them, will make the cut somehow, someday… Didn’t you make it? You had it in you, toiled and made it happen. Share those secrets with wannabes, encourage them to make short films…Your example of Nolan’s Following is probably the best you can quote. I am sure you will not be able to take many under your wings… but select a few to mentor them with what you have learnt, get them to visit your sets and learn things the practical way…

Your initiative to take your films and many others to the world through the internet is one to be lauded and awarded. It is people like you who will eventually succeed in changing perceptions. Create such windows for wannabes to showcase their short films.

I have been a part of many screenwriting workshops as a coordinator and also as a faculty. Any such workshop that doesn’t have a logical conclusion, the course content or the faculty don’t really matter. I reserve my comments on such workshops that aim to unearth latent writing talent. Unless production houses, established directors and writers come forward to mentor these participants, i don’t think the industry will get people of substance.

I have also been a part of an initiative that failed and fell on its face for being ahead of its time.

I have not watched your film and plan to catch on TV when it is aired.

The movies should be interesting.What was so interesting about your first movie.Although it was more real than other commercial film stories, what was the big deal. After seeing ur movie one feels that A story has been told of someone’ life with nothing exciting in it.What is the point of that story.It was so flat and plain.This explains why producers think twice befor they say Yes to you.

Thanks For the wonderful thoghts Pawan, even i had the same openion for the dreamers coz am also the follower of Following, oftenly i myself speritize myself with this movie and am into Theaterical Activities since form 5yrs have worked for many projects….. and gained many things to entartain peoples……. am on my way to entertain peoples……. shortly am Entering……. to the Creative world……. Creativity and unique rules the world……..

Mixed thoughts. I don’t deny ‘THE CIRCUS’ beats the intelligentsia when it comes to funding. However, when you think of it, people like Kasaravalli and Karnad, have managed to beat the circus and bring their ideas to mainstream. The key thing is EVOLUTION.

You are spot on when you say today’s technology is ‘film maker friendly’. So are the channels. If someone is unsure of what I am saying they should check FUTURE SHORTS on youtube.

“I must write scripts which a 6 year old should be able to understand and that’s when they will produce it”

BUT I DONT WANT TO MAKE A PIECE OF ART FOR A 6 YEAR OLD! (hope more and more film makers echo this sentiment)

I am usually not the one to leave a comment, i have always been more of a silent observer and I really resisted commenting but thought i HAD to put in my two bits here. i am an aspiring film maker myself, I have worked as an associate director on 5 odd films. I have worked with the likes of Kasarvalli, Sunny Joseph, Sreekar Prasad to name a few. I agree with a lot of things that you have said but dont think it is as black and white as you make it out to be…
Anyways, All i am trying to say is….
Pawan, you are in a privileged place, you HAVE directed a film, got a theatrical release, film being good or bad (successful vs unsuccessful) is irrelevant and a moot point by itself, you have a platform, one that YOU have painstakingly created thru your hard work and beliefs, people listen and take your words seriously….people with dreams and aspirations….

Thou honestly written, your words in this post are far too discouraging…film making and becoming a film maker is no easy task, just as stating a business isn’t, or raising your family isn’t…..It is a test of character and a continuous battle. Yes, the industry is 200 years behind, they are old fashioned and all that…but why get into all that when you are telling people to just pick up a camera and shoot films. Isn’t it what you did?? you picked up a camera and started shooting your films…If i may make an analogy….
There’s a kid playing with a bat and ball, he is having lots of fun, the last thing you should be doing is telling him is how difficult it is to break into the Indian team. Telling him to have fun and helping him hit the ball would seem more appropriate….no?

You should be telling people to watch a lot of films, foreign or otherwise not the other way around.

I have lot of respect for your efforts and do wish you great luck for your project, i hope home talkies is a grand success and opens lots of doors to filmmakers. Just go easy on the frustration man….

You don’t have to be creatively genius to make a film which can be commercially hit in a market like sandalwood.
But making such films would demean your passion of making creatively good movies.
“Be a Roman in Rome”; otherwise chances of surviving in industry like sandalwood are less, else change the target audience (like you are doing now for your future movies).

Pawan,
try this old idea to make a commercially hit movie!!
Take 6-7 commercially hit movies of south india of same theme (mainly Tamil, telugu). Mix and gel stories from those movies to make single story with lots of fights and songs being shot abroad. Get a call sheet of hero who is in form currently.
Producers will be behind you to make a movie.
But you have to shed your passion of making intellectual movies, which would demean your passion of filmmaking!!

Have many such stories written together with my guru, in case you need some contact me!!!

Just like most of the comments here, i both agree and disagree with your article. Nonetheless, thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

As you suggested i would like to try the making films i want without worrying about anything but the needs of the script. However, i think there are some aspects i am not aware since i am not an insider. Can you shed some light on those. The are listed below

1) Is it mandatory to work with the registered union professionals(actors, technicians etc) when making a movie? If yes, how to get registered into these unions? Please assume that the movie made might get a chance for theatrical release.

2) How to get a certification? I looked up the CBFC website. But i believe reality might be different than the procedure listed there. Please share your experience.

3) How to get the Props?!!! believe it or not, i am just not able to get a ‘real enough’ revolver till now!!! it might sound silly, but, please provide some info on this (not just a revolver, but props in general).

4) any other pit falls we have to avoid running into legal or other trouble (stealing the story seems to legal!) when we make your movie?

There might be others who have the same questions, so if you can put an article (time permitting of course)on these, it might be very very helpful.